Aya Darwazeh is the Director of Partnerships of Research & Innovation. She supports IRC's External Relations teams in raising funds for Airbel's programmatic work from ultra-high net worth individuals, foundations, corporations, and institutions across the globe. She is a seasoned fundraising and sales executive with 10 years of experience within the private and non-profit sectors working for VC funds, tech companies, family offices, and non-profit organizations.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology from Harvard University. She is a striver for a connected world, built on the premise of equal opportunity, understanding, and empathy. She is currently based in Brooklyn and is a native Arabic speaker.